Lipoproteins are the molecules which carry cholesterol and triglycerides throughout the body. They are both vital to daily bodily functions like building cell membranes, hormones, and providing energy to body tissue. However, an excess of either, in particular cholesterol, can put a person at serious risk for cardiovascular disease. To help measure the type and amount of cholesterol in the body and determine potential risk for cardiovascular disease, lipoprotein electrophoresis is frequently performed. During this type of electrophoresis, the quantity of each lipoprotein class is measured based on its movement in an electrical field. There are four major classes of lipoproteins: Chylomicrons, which circulate in the blood and deposit the triglycerides in fatty tissue. Very low-density lipoproteins, which contain higher concentration of cholesterol than chylomicrons, low-density lipoproteins, and high-density lipoproteins. In general, the HIGHER the level of high-density lipoprotein, the lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, and vice versa, though all of the lipoproteins play a role.